Wards



(No Mndel.)

' (J. L. EDWARDS.

BRIDLE BIT.

Patented Nowzo, 1888.

UNITED STATES ATENT. Fr es.

BRI DLE -BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,998,6lated November 20, 1888. Application filed July 16, 1888. Serial No. 280,073. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS LORON ED- WARDS, of Newark, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bridle-bits, and has for its object to provide a bit composed of several parts removably and adj ustably secured together.

A further object is to provide a bit which may be readily adapted to horses having differentshaped months.

A further object is to furnish a bridle-bit which shall be simple in construction, effective in operation, and cheap to manufacture.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the parts separated. Fig. 2 is a view of the parts assembled. Fig. 3 is a view showing the central extension-piece removed.

A indicates a center piece of elliptical form, and provided at each end and in its center with screw-threaded sockets a, b, and c. The end sockets, a b, are intended to receive the screw-threaded shanks of eyelets d, which are screwed into the central piece,A, as shown in Fig. 2. Attached to the eyelets d d by means of swivel-joints are two inwardly-tapering links, 13 O, perforated at their larger ends for the reception of metal rings 0 e, which serve for attachment of the reins.

Two upwardly-extending levers, D E, provided with loops at their lower ends, are looped about the links B 0 near the outer extremities of the latter. The levers B C may be made of leather, having the loops f made of sufficient size to permit a free movement of the links through them; and the upper portions of said levers may be tightly wound with cord or wire to produce a tubular form. At the upper extremities of the levers D E eyelets g are connected by swiveljoints, and serve for the attachment of the overdraw-strap F and nose strap G. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.) Making the side levers, D E, of leather and providing them with eyelets at their upper ends, connected by swivel-joints, will be found to be of great advantage over the usual solid metallic side levers, as they act upon the trifacial nerves without chafing or cutting the sides of the horses mouth, and the straps attached to the swiveled eyelets will have free movement independent of the levers themselves, and therefore will not cause the lever to twist and turn and be unnecessarily forced against the sides of the horses month. These levers may be made of metal, if desired. The perforation cin the center of the central piece, A, is adapted for the reception of the screwthreaded shank of a tongue or extension piece,

h, made preferably of oval shape.

The mouths of horses vary in shape, being more or less concave or having no concavity at all. In order, therefore, to reach the maxillary nerves in the operation of the bit, the tongue or extension h is provided, and is adapted to be screwed more or less into the central piece, A, corresponding to the degree of concavity of the horses mouth. In case the mouth of the horse upon which the bit is to be used has no concavity, the tongue or extension it may be entirely dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 3.

If it be desired to make the bit longer or shorter to suit different horses, the eyelets 0 may be readily screwed into the center piece to a greater or less degree, as desired. By constructing the bit as above set forth the parts are easily adjusted, have a free and easy movement when the bit is operated, and are not apt to injure the mouth of the horse. They may also be separated and packed in very small space for transportation, and easily and quickly put together when desired for use.

Many slight changes might be made in the constructive details of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof; hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Abridle-bit consisting of a central piece,

the free ends of said side levers, substantially 15 as set forth. ,I

4. In a bridle-bit, the combination, with a central piece, links secured thereto, and rings attached to the links, of a detachable tongue or extension attached to the center piece, sub- 20 stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS 'LORON EDWARDS.

Witnesses: I

1?. It. SLEIG-III, CALVIN I H. VARY. 

